The operators of a local school special needs school is seeking the public’s assistance in helping them secure a new site after they were evicted from their previous location and according to them without reason.

President of The Bahamas Down Syndrome and Friends Centre Cheryl Johnson-Newell said Tuesday that she and the school’s other workers had to move their belongings out of their Queen’s College location after they were recently forced out.

Mrs. Johnson-Newell did not go into specifics regarding the fallout between her centre and officials at Queen’s College, which she said came as a surprise, but she did note that just recently they got their eviction notice.

“We received a letter a few weeks ago stating that because of irreconcilable differences between Queen’s College and the down syndrome centre, that they would like us to move out,” she said. “They gave us seven days to move out and if not they would change the locks and we would not be able to get our stuff that have been donated to us from throughout the community.”

Mrs. Johnson-Newell added that the two sides have never sat down to iron out whatever kinks they were experiencing and said that as far as she could recall, the only dispute they have ever had with Queen’s College officials was when the latter opened its new Galaxy Bookstore.

She said they both shared an entrance and that may have been the issue.

The school operator added that the 40-plus students they care for require round the clock attention and much more space than they have now.

The school recently moved into a smaller building near their former site.

“We have not only Down syndrome students but also autistic students and children with Cerebral Palsy,” she added. “So we are asking the public to embrace us a little bit and if there are anyone people who can help us along the way we would appreciate any help we can get.”

The Journal tried to get a response from Queen’s College officials but security guards would not let our new steam on the campus.